Two seminarians ordained Deacons

NAGA CITY – Two seminarians of the Archdiocese of Caceres were ordained Deacons on Saturday, 4 July 2020, by Most Rev. Rolando J. Tria Tirona, OCD, DD, Archbishop of Caceres, at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

Observing social distancing and other health protocols, the vast Basilica was filled only with a few close relative and family members of the two Deacons, Rev. John Robert Mendoza Bañal of the St. Paschal Baylon Parish, Tinambac, Camarines Sur; and Rev. Angel Lorenzo Sapinoso Dorosan of the St. Dominic of Guzman Parish, Nabua, Camarines Sur. Members of the Caceres Clergy, and a few seminarians were also present to witness the rites.

Servants of God for the Church, especially for the poor.

In his Homily, the Archbishop reminded the newly-ordained Deacons of their mission as servants, not only in their Diaconate, but also in their forthcoming Priesthood, saying, “As Deacons you are servants, and you are trained to be servants so you will become faithful and good servants as priests – servants of Jesus, servants of the Church.”

The Prelate also exhorted the two deacons to embrace with delight their being servants, and not bosses, reminding them that “among the many titles of Jesus – Messiah, Lord, King – the one with which he effected our salvation is [that] he became a suffering servant. So always imprint in your heart – now and God-willing as Priests – that you are servants of God for the Church, especially for the poor.”

Pastoral exposure

Immediately following their ordinations, the deacons were assigned to assist in two parishes in the Archdiocese. Rev. Bañal was assigned to the St. Bartholomew the Apostle Parish, Baao, Camarines Sur, while Rev. Dorosan was assigned to the Our Lady of La Porteria Parish, Calabanga, Camarines Sur. These pastoral exposures are made in order to afford the two deacons to acquaint themselves with parochial ministry in preparation for their ordination to the Priesthood, and future pastoral life.